In 1917, my 7 year old father had a dog, a Dachshund, for a pet. It was named "Kaiser." That summer, his father told him the dog's name was now "Teddy," and that he must be out in the yard with Teddy when he had to do his business, because being a Dachshund had become dangerous, since "patriots" thought they were supporting the war when …
In 1917, my 7 year old father had a dog, a Dachshund, for a pet. It was named "Kaiser." That summer, his father told him the dog's name was now "Teddy," and that he must be out in the yard with Teddy when he had to do his business, because being a Dachshund had become dangerous, since "patriots" thought they were supporting the war when they killed "German" dogs.
In 1918, my 4 year old mother, whose family name was Weist, was woken by her parents one morning because the barn of their farm outside Alamosa, Colorado, was on fire - it burned to the ground, killing all their livestock. The arsonist(s) were never found. Ironically, the first "Weist" of the family in America was her grandfather, Dr. Frederick Weist, a professor of humanities at the University of Frankfurt and a member of the Congress of Frankfurt in the 1848 revolution against Prussian rule. He arrived in the United States with a Prussian price on his head for his anti-Prussian activities.
Two of the many reasons I have never liked "narrow-minded Southern bigot" (in the words of those who knew him) Woodrow Fucking Wilson., the greatest hypocrite to ever occupy the White House and the most over-rated president ever. The Unreconstructed Confederate who nationalized Jim Crow.
Wow, it got personal. Can’t imagine killing a “German” dog. Or burning a barn full of livestock. Although a MAGAt fool bragged on FB that he killed his beloved dog to see if he would be able to kill a stranger. Sometimes I don’t think humanity is very human.
I have thought of that several times lately. That and “Freedom isn’t free” they all spouted as W had us invading Iraq which had absolutely nothing to do with our freedom. Same idiots burning the cd’s of the Dixie Chicks as those pouring out and boycotting Bud Light. Cut off your nose to spite your face because “you know.” Fighting that mentality is so exhausting…but absolutely necessary now.
Oh, my bff’s son was a W lover. Made me puke. I thought that we aren’t that stupid back then, with daily proof that some are. He was a major jerk when he was in jr high. Took after his dad. Lord, what memories. So depressing. And then we get chump, hard to fathom. The tea party, was the connection.
This was another action that happened to us, which is similar to the dachshund story. When JFK was assassinated we were terrified on a Los Angeles freeway by a crazed driver who tried to force us off the road because our VW bug had Texas plates. (My Naval officer husband had just come off active duty; he had registered car in his hometown, Lufkin, TX before we met. We were fairly recently married in CA, and hadn’t changed the plates. We did then.)
Hmmm TC reading your post, I am stumped? Has the world made progress since then, regressed or same level of ignorance/Southern Bigotry? Wilson vs Trump? Burning a farm vs sacking the Capitol? Killing a dog because of German origins vs Kristi Noem shooting her own dog? I am still stumped?
T.C. is the sort of person to believe that, since we haven't entirely cured the nation of bigotry and ignorance, it was all for naught and everything is still terrible.
I guess this is the silver lining to being clinically diagnosed OCD. I used to *feel* like because an otherwise cozy blanket had a wrinkle in it, that made it no better than garbage. (I'm not kidding. I have spent months of my life unable to either sleep or get up because my blankets and clothes were constantly "wrong." It's a disease.) However, years of therapy has forced me to realize that I *know* that perception is not actually true. I had no choice but train myself out of the cognitive distortions, because the only other alternative was my brain literally destroying me from the inside out. It is now amazing to me to see how most people walk through life with some smaller form of this, never questioning the validity of these thoughts.
It is a battle you recognized and overcame. Not an easy one. A lesson for us all, even those of us who never had a clinical diagnosis. No, everything is not for naught, but lessons learned at a cost. Thank you.
I don't actually believe it; that was a throwaway snarky joke. In fact we have made much progress politically and socially, and I am very proud of the fact that my ancestors played important (if small) roles in making that progress. Which is why I do what I do politically and professionally. I don't want to lose that progress to the Know Nothings, who have been there working their malign influence from the beginning.
I also know about (and respect you for what you did) things like OCD, being myself Autistic/ADHD (if you know what it is, as I have learned, it becomes a superpower when you use its capabilities, rather than the curse I thought it was all my life before going to work on the issue).
The one thing folks like us have to learn is not to be so literal minded all the time - use that power when necessary. Good on you!
I really liked what your were saying until the last paragraph, not because you dislike President Wilson, but because of tone of expression. ln any case, I am sorry that your forebears had to endure that. This trumpism is not new, just packaged differently.
Go read Wilson's record. The first thing he did on taking office was institute Jim Crow in the Federal civil service, which had been a light of progressive hiring and one of the few employers in America that did give Blacks equal treatment in hiring and promotions. When it came to World War I he really did run as a hypocrite "He kept us out of war!" and when he went in, he was the one who got the Espionage Act passed, He sent antiwar activists to some really bad prisons (I knew some of them like Ammon Hennacy back in the 60s and heard the stories of Atlanta Federal Prison first-hand). As to his "internationalism" with the Fourteen Points and all, that was limited to the white Europeans of the countries re-emerging from the wreckage of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; he was fine with carving up the Ottoman Empire between France and Britain and handing Germany's African colonies to the British and South Africans, in the name of "leading them to civilization." When Nguyen Ai Quoc tried to get him to support independence for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos under the 14 Points, he wasn't even given an appointment, being "Asian," so the man who would become Ho Chi Minh and make life difficult for Wilson's successors became a Communist since the Bolsheviks supported "national liberation." Nothing Wilson did was like the "progressive" movement made him out to be until his Confederate white supremacy couldn't be swept under the rug anymore and the truth came out starting in the 60s as those of us who wanted to deal with truth in history began researching how we got into Vietnam.
A word of advice: don't McDoodle with someone who does this professionally.
Thanks TC for that information … I immediately read up on Thomas Woodrow Wilson. At times, there seems to be so little time with so that I want to do - hence, I sleep less as I narrow in on 4 score.
The war information effort must have been at least somewhat effective in the run-up to World War II. I recent read my father's English class journal in high school during the 1940-41 year. It was obvious to him that the U.S. would be going to war and he was busy readying himself for the task.
Thank you, TC. I thought that the best thing about Wilson's term was when he had his stroke and his wife was running things. He was truly a "narrow-minded Southern bigot".
He's never been listed by observers as anything but the Dumbest President Ever. Wilson had this undeserved reputation as a Big Progressive when what he was was a Big Regressive.
During WWI, my grandfather and his brother used to get beat up walking to and from school in Oregon for their German accents and German name. They were Russian immigrants, but from German-speaking villages established in Russia in the 1700’s. They both served in the US Army between the big wars. After WWII, my great uncle changed his last name from Hamburg to Hammond.
My maternal grandmother was born within the German Empire, emigrating here when she was a young girl. According to my mother, she was ostracized during WWI… I wish I’d asked more questions! My aunts Anglasized their German name. Again, wish I had asked questions. So my family experienced lots of negativity…
In 1917, my 7 year old father had a dog, a Dachshund, for a pet. It was named "Kaiser." That summer, his father told him the dog's name was now "Teddy," and that he must be out in the yard with Teddy when he had to do his business, because being a Dachshund had become dangerous, since "patriots" thought they were supporting the war when they killed "German" dogs.
In 1918, my 4 year old mother, whose family name was Weist, was woken by her parents one morning because the barn of their farm outside Alamosa, Colorado, was on fire - it burned to the ground, killing all their livestock. The arsonist(s) were never found. Ironically, the first "Weist" of the family in America was her grandfather, Dr. Frederick Weist, a professor of humanities at the University of Frankfurt and a member of the Congress of Frankfurt in the 1848 revolution against Prussian rule. He arrived in the United States with a Prussian price on his head for his anti-Prussian activities.
Two of the many reasons I have never liked "narrow-minded Southern bigot" (in the words of those who knew him) Woodrow Fucking Wilson., the greatest hypocrite to ever occupy the White House and the most over-rated president ever. The Unreconstructed Confederate who nationalized Jim Crow.
Wow, it got personal. Can’t imagine killing a “German” dog. Or burning a barn full of livestock. Although a MAGAt fool bragged on FB that he killed his beloved dog to see if he would be able to kill a stranger. Sometimes I don’t think humanity is very human.
It appears not to be - probably more often than some times!?!?!
Do you remember "Freedom Fries" from the early 00's? The more things change, the more they stay the same...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_fries
I have thought of that several times lately. That and “Freedom isn’t free” they all spouted as W had us invading Iraq which had absolutely nothing to do with our freedom. Same idiots burning the cd’s of the Dixie Chicks as those pouring out and boycotting Bud Light. Cut off your nose to spite your face because “you know.” Fighting that mentality is so exhausting…but absolutely necessary now.
Oh, my bff’s son was a W lover. Made me puke. I thought that we aren’t that stupid back then, with daily proof that some are. He was a major jerk when he was in jr high. Took after his dad. Lord, what memories. So depressing. And then we get chump, hard to fathom. The tea party, was the connection.
Not just necessary, but crucial.
They want all of us exhausted and broke, and powerless.
This was another action that happened to us, which is similar to the dachshund story. When JFK was assassinated we were terrified on a Los Angeles freeway by a crazed driver who tried to force us off the road because our VW bug had Texas plates. (My Naval officer husband had just come off active duty; he had registered car in his hometown, Lufkin, TX before we met. We were fairly recently married in CA, and hadn’t changed the plates. We did then.)
Yikes!!!
That is heavy, Dude. Respect. ✊
Hmmm TC reading your post, I am stumped? Has the world made progress since then, regressed or same level of ignorance/Southern Bigotry? Wilson vs Trump? Burning a farm vs sacking the Capitol? Killing a dog because of German origins vs Kristi Noem shooting her own dog? I am still stumped?
What is this "progress" of which you speak?
We all had better calm down or go get psychotropic meds.
T.C. is the sort of person to believe that, since we haven't entirely cured the nation of bigotry and ignorance, it was all for naught and everything is still terrible.
I guess this is the silver lining to being clinically diagnosed OCD. I used to *feel* like because an otherwise cozy blanket had a wrinkle in it, that made it no better than garbage. (I'm not kidding. I have spent months of my life unable to either sleep or get up because my blankets and clothes were constantly "wrong." It's a disease.) However, years of therapy has forced me to realize that I *know* that perception is not actually true. I had no choice but train myself out of the cognitive distortions, because the only other alternative was my brain literally destroying me from the inside out. It is now amazing to me to see how most people walk through life with some smaller form of this, never questioning the validity of these thoughts.
But this isn't about me lol.
It is a battle you recognized and overcame. Not an easy one. A lesson for us all, even those of us who never had a clinical diagnosis. No, everything is not for naught, but lessons learned at a cost. Thank you.
I get it Will.
I don't actually believe it; that was a throwaway snarky joke. In fact we have made much progress politically and socially, and I am very proud of the fact that my ancestors played important (if small) roles in making that progress. Which is why I do what I do politically and professionally. I don't want to lose that progress to the Know Nothings, who have been there working their malign influence from the beginning.
I also know about (and respect you for what you did) things like OCD, being myself Autistic/ADHD (if you know what it is, as I have learned, it becomes a superpower when you use its capabilities, rather than the curse I thought it was all my life before going to work on the issue).
The one thing folks like us have to learn is not to be so literal minded all the time - use that power when necessary. Good on you!
I really liked what your were saying until the last paragraph, not because you dislike President Wilson, but because of tone of expression. ln any case, I am sorry that your forebears had to endure that. This trumpism is not new, just packaged differently.
Go read Wilson's record. The first thing he did on taking office was institute Jim Crow in the Federal civil service, which had been a light of progressive hiring and one of the few employers in America that did give Blacks equal treatment in hiring and promotions. When it came to World War I he really did run as a hypocrite "He kept us out of war!" and when he went in, he was the one who got the Espionage Act passed, He sent antiwar activists to some really bad prisons (I knew some of them like Ammon Hennacy back in the 60s and heard the stories of Atlanta Federal Prison first-hand). As to his "internationalism" with the Fourteen Points and all, that was limited to the white Europeans of the countries re-emerging from the wreckage of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; he was fine with carving up the Ottoman Empire between France and Britain and handing Germany's African colonies to the British and South Africans, in the name of "leading them to civilization." When Nguyen Ai Quoc tried to get him to support independence for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos under the 14 Points, he wasn't even given an appointment, being "Asian," so the man who would become Ho Chi Minh and make life difficult for Wilson's successors became a Communist since the Bolsheviks supported "national liberation." Nothing Wilson did was like the "progressive" movement made him out to be until his Confederate white supremacy couldn't be swept under the rug anymore and the truth came out starting in the 60s as those of us who wanted to deal with truth in history began researching how we got into Vietnam.
A word of advice: don't McDoodle with someone who does this professionally.
Thanks TC for that information … I immediately read up on Thomas Woodrow Wilson. At times, there seems to be so little time with so that I want to do - hence, I sleep less as I narrow in on 4 score.
Perhaps Wilson's greatest gift to America was his stroke which apparently left him inert.
We've already had a woman lead the country (no offense to the other amazing First Ladies like Dolly Madison and Michelle Obama) and she did just fine.
and never forget the movie he screened in the White House giving the racists credibility.
Oh, I get it. Simply said, l found the language a bit hard to take.
I have a tendency to say it as I see it, and I dislike being nice to the ones who are the problem.
And TC brings the receipts.
Fair enough. In your position, I would likely feel the same way.
The war information effort must have been at least somewhat effective in the run-up to World War II. I recent read my father's English class journal in high school during the 1940-41 year. It was obvious to him that the U.S. would be going to war and he was busy readying himself for the task.
We have got to teach more critical social thought in this Democracy minded country.
I wish I shared your optimism that most Americans could possibly grasp the concept and if they did, practice it.
Better to try and hope for the best than not ? : )
Thank you, TC. I thought that the best thing about Wilson's term was when he had his stroke and his wife was running things. He was truly a "narrow-minded Southern bigot".
Hum….. are you forgetting the numero uno fucken manic from 2016 me thinks so.
He's never been listed by observers as anything but the Dumbest President Ever. Wilson had this undeserved reputation as a Big Progressive when what he was was a Big Regressive.
Yep
During WWI, my grandfather and his brother used to get beat up walking to and from school in Oregon for their German accents and German name. They were Russian immigrants, but from German-speaking villages established in Russia in the 1700’s. They both served in the US Army between the big wars. After WWII, my great uncle changed his last name from Hamburg to Hammond.
I am sorry your forebears had to bear that.
My maternal grandmother was born within the German Empire, emigrating here when she was a young girl. According to my mother, she was ostracized during WWI… I wish I’d asked more questions! My aunts Anglasized their German name. Again, wish I had asked questions. So my family experienced lots of negativity…
Whoa...